Cushion coupler for cars



July 8, 1952 H. F.' FLOW ERS 3 CUSHION COUPLER FOR CARS Filed May 18. 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 fbrtfzowezu MW C mi; $212M July 8, 1952 H. F. FLOWERS CUSHION COUPLER FOR CARS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18. 1948 lkg July 8 1952 H. F. FLOWERS CUSHION COUPLER FOR CARS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1948 3mm jfezuy Hui Fowero,

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July 8, 1952 H. F. FLOWERS CUSHION COUPLER FOR CARS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 18. 1948 mm, C WQXM W y 1952 H. F. FLOWERS 2,602,553

CUSHION COUPLER FOR CARS Filed May 18, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 8, 1952 H. F. FLOWERS 2,602,553

CUSHION COUPLER FOR CARS Filed May 18, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 BY hum F0122, will...

ATTORNEYS uncoupling.

' "Figure? isaplan'view of the same Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT orF -cE H '2,602,553 7 V p v Q CUSHIONCOUPLER FOR CARS I Henry 'Fort Flowersj Findlay, Ohio Application May 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,671 g I 12 Claims.

, The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a mine car coupler and more particularly :toa coupler which includes a draft gear -1for absorbing the shocks incident to coupling, ac- .;;celerating-and braking the cars in a train.

Aniohjectpf the invention; is to provide a coui;p1810f.the abovetype wherein'the draft gear is enclosed soasto be protected from corrosion and e to make possible effective lubrication of the wearing parts. i 7

Another object of thevinvention is to provide .a coupler which will-allow individual cars in the train to be inverted in a rotary, dumper Without v Another object of the invention is to provide acoupler of the-abovetype which may beper- -manently attached to a car and is provided with means for maintaining the same centered both vertically and horizontally "to Ifaciltate the entrance of the coupler paddle intothe coupler pocket of a car to whichit isto beattached. Another object of the invention isto'provide a cushion coupler of the above type anda coupler pocket therefor which permits cars to be'automatically coupled while on a curved track having aradiuslof approximately 50 feet ,A further object of theinvention is to provide a cushion .co'up'l'er'of the above type which may be manually swung on the coupling pin attach- 1 ment there for through an angle of substantially V 45 degrees to. facilitate the coupling ofv cars on a track of very sharp radius. I T V I 7 A .still further object of theinven'tion is to rprovidea carwith a cushion coupler atone end thereof and a coupler, pocket at the other end the'r'eo'f'which pocket is flush with the end of the car'to facilitate the placing 'of the car'next to a loading apparatus. I j

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupler having twotelescoping elements with a compressingspringitherebetween for-absorbing the shoclrincident to Jcoupling', accelerating and braking off the cars "in ;a train wherein the elements make direct contact after the spring'h'as 'been'compressedto a predetermined degree to prevent overstraining of the compression spring.

A further object 'of the invention is 'to'provide a coupler release which will stand unlocked and also lock or couple-automatically when the com- "press ion"shoclc of the humping of the cars together is transmitted to the release riggingth'erev for. p I

"These and other objects will in part be obvious andy/ ill inpart'be hereinafter more fully dis- 1 M .7

Injjt h'ejdrawin'gs whichshow byway ofilliis- 'tratio'n oneienijbodiment or the invention:

'Figurefi is'ia view. in' si de elevation showing v I more; or" less diagrammatically two minecars {joined together by'theiimproved cushion'coupler;

.r ea a (Cl. Mil -75 2 -liigu're'3 is a vertical sectional view through-th improved cushion coupler and also through'the coupler pockets of two adjacent cars'which have been'joine'd by the coupler; H 'iFigure 4 is aview partly in plan and partly in section of one o'fthe improved couplerspermanentlylattached to a car; j i

Figure 5' is af'view partly in 'sectionand partly inplan on the line'5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the coupler as swung to an angle ofsubstantially 45' degrees'to'the longitudinal center of the car to facilitate coupling on a sharp curve 7 Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line -'l--'l of Figure 6 also showing the coupl'er'paddle'se'ctioned onithe same line;

Figure Sis aview in' end elevation of a car with parts broken away and sectioned to show the improved coupler releasing rigging with the coupler pin in lowered position; 7

Figure 9 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section 'showing'the housing for the coupling releasing mechanism and also showing the housing for the operating shaft therefor;

Figure 10 is afvertical sectional view longitudinally of the car showing in full lines thecoupling pin as lowered into operative position and. in j-dot'ted linessaid coupling pin raised;

Figure 11 is a view showing the paddle'of the improved coupling as about to enter the coupler pocket of another car while said cars are positioned on a curved track of approximately 50' as partially entering'thep'art and contacting the "inclined side wall thereof which will force the coupler to turnto bring the paddle at the outer end of the coupler into a position to receive the coupling pin; v V j p 'Figure'13 is; a similar view but showing-the coupler-in its "final position for joining the two Figure l lis a front elevation of the coupling pocket at 't'heright of Figure 3, showing a p01;-

'tion of the coupling paddle through which the couplin'g-pin'passes; V v Figure 15 is a sectional view on the line l5, '15

of Figure'il l; and

Figure 16 is a sectional'view on the line 15,16 oiFigure 14,11

v InEigures 1 and 2 there is shown a minecar indicated at' Iwhich is joined to'a mine carindicated at "zi y the improved coupling 3, This im- 1 proved coupling 3 includesicoupler paddlesjd and 5 5.l-""-I he coupler paddle 4 is attached"to'i'anouter tubular element-or sleeve *6; j Said "sleevehas weldedthereto afhead'or end plate! and the ceup1er- -p-addle-4 is secured, to this headby weld- 'in l "The coupler'paddle" 5 is attached to an I QD fQPfF EI ar member or sleeve 8. {Said sleeve is ""p q i w th an end "plate 9 whichis welded member 16. I telescoping connection with the sleeve 8.. At the a relatively light spring 20.

which this light spring is located is a closed chamj around curved sections of'track.

Welded to the underside of the do ,isla collar 30.; This collar and the opening aeoasae 3 thereto and the paddle is in turn welded to this end plate 9.

Between the sleeve 6 and the sleeve 8 is a compression spring [0. Located between the inner and outer sleeves B and 8 and at one end of the compression spring is an annular follower block II. This follower block is free to move between the sleeves. When the coupling is under compression strain, the follower block H abuts against the end of the head I, When the coupler is under tensile strain, the follower block I l abuts against a loading stop l2 which is welded to the inner end of the sleeve 8. There is a follower block 13 at the other end of the compression spring which is likewise free to move between the sleevesB and 8. When the coupling is under tensile strain, the follower block 13 abuts against an annular abutment plate I4 welded to the outer sleeve 6 and when the coupling is under compression strain, the follower block ll abuts against the end of the head I. The head I is secured to the outer sleeve so as to close said sleeve and the chamber in which the follower blocks are located.

. Likewise the annular plate l4 and the loading so that it is protected against corrosion and also makes possible effective lubrication.

Located within the inner sleeve 8 is a tubular This tubular member makes free inner end of the tubular member I6 is a head I! which is welded to the tubular member I and closesthe inner end of said tubular member. Disposed withinthe head 9 attached to the sleeve 8 is-an-abutment plate l8 which has a central projecting stud I9 engaging a recess in the inner face of the-head 9. Between this abutment plate [8 andthe head I! of the tubular member i6 is The chamber in her and lubrication can be furnished said chamber through the oil fitting 2|.

In Figure 3, a portion of a mine car to which the improved coupler is permanently attached is 23. Depending-from the floor plate 22 is a veris circular in cross section at the innermost portion thereof, as indicated at 25. A plate 26 is welded to the plate 24 and serves'as a bottom plate for the coupler pocket. The coupler paddle 4 is provided with an opening 21 for the coupling pin which is indicated at 2B in Figure 3] The inner end of the coupler paddle is curved about the center of the opening in the paddle, as indicated at 29. The opening in the paddle is slightly larger in diameter than the section of-the coupling pin located in said opening so that the paddle under compression will abut against the "inner curved surface '25 of' the coupler pocket. This'fope'ning for the coupling pin is ofv suflicient dianietefrlto permit free movement of the coupler ,whenthe cars joined by the-coupler are passing 7 or plate 2 2 through the floor plate. are taperedso as to fairly" snugly fit a tapered portion oft-he couling'pin'28.' At the lower side of .the coupler the coupler pocket.

4' pocket is a supporting bracket 3| for the coupler paddle 4. Between the bracket and the paddle isa rubber ring 32 which serves as a cushion support for thepaddle. This bracket 3| is welded to the upper face of the bottom plate 26 of Said bracket has a tapered opening to receive the lower tapered portion of the coupling pin 28. Said bracket has a cutaway portion 33, thus providing spaced ends 34 and 35 which are placed in contact with the inner face 25 of the plate 24 at the rear of the pocket. Cooperating with this bracket 3| on which the paddle 4 rests is a forked supporting foot 36. Said supporting foot 36 has members 37, 31 at the inner end thereof which bear against shoulders 38, 38 on the bracket 3!. The supporting foot is attached to a supporting stem 39. This supporting stem is threaded into'the supporting foot and rigidly secured thereto by a nut 40. The supporting stem 39 passes through a bushing 41 lining an opening in the head '1, and at its inner end bears against the head plate I! of the inner tubular member H3. The spring 20 normally holds the head plate I! pressed against the end of the stem 39,

The weight of a cushion coupler normally tends to move the same downward on the connection of the blade 4 with the coupling pin 28. However, any downward movement of a coupler will shorten the distance between the plates l1 and the shoulders 38 and this would force the stem 39 inwardly into the head I, moving the plate I! away from the head 1 and compressing the spring. The spring, however, is pre-loaded so that there is sufficient compression on the spring 20 to operate through this stem and foot 7 39 and the foot operating through the spring 20 shownin section. Thefioor plate of the car-is indicated at 22, and the end plate of the car at thel other end of, the car.

' willlhold .the coupling when disconnected from a. car in a substantially horizontal position and ina centered position so that it will readily enter the pocket'of the car to which it is to be attached.

Under normal conditions on a straight track the coupler will be centeredboth vertically and horizontallyso that itjwill readily enter the coupling pocket of the car towhich it is to be attached. During transit, the coupler is free to swing-on the coupling pins when passing around curves. v

-The, coupler pocket of the car to which the coupler is tobe attached is similar in construction to the coupler pocket to which the coupler is permanently connected. At the right in Figure 23 is shown a portion of a car to which the coupler has been attached. I

Thefloor plate of the car is indicated at 42 at the right of Figure 3; Depending from this floor plate 42 is a vertically disposed plate 43 which forms the rear and side walls of the coupling pocket. This plate is circular in cross sectionatr the innermost portion thereof and is shaped similar to the platej24 of the coupling at Attached tothisfdepending plate 43 is-a plate. 44which is welded to the plat'e'43 and serves as a bottom plate for 'ithe'c'oupling pocket. "Secured'to the upperl'face fofthe bottomrplated l is" a supporting bracket having forked ends similar to the forked ends of the bracket"3l inthe coupling pocketat the other end of the car. This bracket 45 extends 'inj front of the coupling aswell asin the rear and-there is an opening through the bracket for the'coupling pin, which opening tapered. The structure of this bracket and coupling opening is very similar to that ofthe bracket 31 as shown "at'the left in Figure 3. Disposed in the coupling pocket is an jinclinedplate 48. "This inclined.

plate 48 is cut away in the central portion to receive "the upper "front portion of the bracket 45. Thebracket ld is in a sense recessed to receive the upper central portion of the plate 48. There are two rectangular blocks 58* welded to the plate 58. Bolts 49, deextend throughthe bottomplate 44 of the coupling pocket and are threaded into the blocks 48 respectively. These bolts serve to hold the plate in place and the 'purpose'of the plateis to direct the coupling upwardly over thebrack'et" 45 into, position to jreceiveithe coupling pin. When the plate wears it canbejremoved and replacedby removing the bolts 49.

Attached to the bracket 45 is a directing plate 48. Said plateis secured to the bracket by means of a bolt 59; Thisplate can be removed and anew plate substituted therefor in case of "wear. The purpose of the plate is to direct the coupler paddle 5 into proper vertical position in the coupler pocket. The side walls of the rear plate 43 are. inclined outwardly away from each otherand this serves as a means for'fcentering thepaddle 5 so as to bring the openingj l's in the paddle'into alignment with the openings in the coupler pocket so that the coupler pin will pass through the opening in the paddle.

The floor plate 42 is provided witha collar 50 on the under side thereof and the opening through thefioor plate and collar are tapered to fit the tapered portion of the coupling pin 41. The bracket 45 also has a tapered opening which fits a tapered portion at the lower end of the coupling pin. The pocket for the coupling paddle, as noted, has a' wide gathering opening.

which guides thepaddle into the pocket when couplingoncurves. fl,1. I

Associated w'iththe coupling pin is "an operatingmechanism for lifting and lowering the coupling .pin. Extending upwardly from the .ffioor plate is a cylindrical guide member 5| which'guides the coupling pin when it is lifted from the'coupling pocket. A housing-52 mount- I'ed on" the inner wall of the car body'contains a 'couplerjlifting device which includes a link 53- pivotally connected to the coupling pin 41. 'Sa'id link at its upper end is connected to a v crank pin 54' on the end of a crank arm 55 cardied by a shaft '60.

This shaft is mounted in a "supporting jsleeve BI and extends into the housing and .the crank arm is mounted on the inner end of the shaft. The outer end ofthe shaft is provided withan operating-handle 62. This op- ,er atingj handle is so ,positioned that when the fcouplingjpin is lowered, the handle is in lowered siti'on; as shown" in" Figure 8. The shaft 50 is so'disposedxthat it li es ma vertical line passing in" rearfof the'centei o-flthe'cou'pling pin. When the coupling pin is, lowered, the connection of thecrank arm to thedink' 53'passes a deadfcen-' line :through the axisofjthe'shaft' and the ;ccnnection. to' the coupling and any tendency of.

the coupling to' work upward would'tend to'tu'rn' accuses 'the crankin in-"a counterclockwise direction and this would' bring the handle against the end wall of the car, which would limit an lifting movement of the coupling. Therefore; the coupling may besaid to be automatically locked in coupling position. When the crank handle is turned so as to raise the coupling, the handle -will thenextend upwardly from the shaftand again the crank arm will be turned .pastdead center so that the coupling pin'will he held raised, that is, locked inraised position; Whentwo cars are coupledtogether; the abutment'shock will cause the crank arm to move forward and drop, thus releasing thecouplin'g pin so that it-will fall into place in theoperiings in'the pocket and the opening in the paddie so that-the cars are automatically coupled.

This coupling'releasing rigging therefor-serves "notonly as a means whereby-the coupling pin maybe-manually withdrawn, but it also-locks the coupling pin inplace when the-cars arecoupled'so that it cannot work loose. It also locks the coupling pin in raised position so thati-tmay be released by the shock incident to thecoupling of the cars-so that itwillfall into engagement 1 with the coupling paddle.

In Figures 11-13, thereis' illustrated an autoinatic coupling of cars on a track having aradius of approximately 50 feet. In Figure" 11, the jcoupler isshown in its centered'position and as the cars approach each other, it will enter the 'pocketof-the car to' 'which it is to be attached. As shown-in Figure '12; the coupler contacts the tapered M7211 of the pocket and movestoward 'the center of the same, swinging on its own coupling pin: In Figure 13, the'coupler is-shown as'swung on its own coupling pin and moved through contactwiththe tapered'wall to a position where a coupling pin may be readily dropped into the opening in the paddle at the outer end of the cushion coupler.

mined (extent of movement contact-with the head 'I' and this-will prevent any further'telescoping movement of the sleeves fi a'nd 8. This contact of thein'ner sleeve with the head of the outer sleeve occurs before the draftsp'ring -19 canbe compressed solid, thus "the sleeve 8 and not the draft spring is required'to carry the jshock ofthe'most severe buffing forces at the "time'two cars are coupledtogether. This in- [ward movement of the sleeve 8 will also: comvpress the spring 20 so that said springassists thedraft spring Ill when the coupler is sub- "je'ctedjto coupling forces in compression or bufi.

This spring 20 serves also totakef'up any-slack or free play in the longitudinal directionhetween the outer sleeve 6 andtheinner-s1eeve8. This spring; 121) also performs a'third function :ofinaintaining the coupler and "paddle-weenterediboth vertically and horizontally. f f

The'compression spring I0 is placed underthe "desired compression load before the loadstops 1 rand 15 arafinally placed. compression I ing from the spirit of the invention in the appended claims.

-spring;;which operates when the sleeves are moved inwardly relative. to each other or outwardly relative to each other provides a double acting'spring draft gear to absorb the shock of coupling, accelerating and braking the carsin a train.

The sleeve 8 is free to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the coupling in the sleeve 6. The abutmentplate'Iilpivots at the center of the head 9 of the inner sleeve '8. This permits the inner sleeve to rotate without in any way disturbing.itsconnection to the outer sleeve and the inner tubular member 16 and the springs in the coupler. Referring to Figure 3, when the car I, illustrated in part at the left of the figure, is rotated, all parts of the cushion coupler except the inner sleeve and its associated panel rotate. When the car 2, illustrated at the right ot Figure 3, is rotated only the inner sleeve and its associated paddle rotate, all other parts, in-

cluding both springsremain stationary. Therefore, one or more cars maybe placedin a rotary dumper and inverted without uncoupling the carsfrcnn the train.

V In the use of the improved cushion coupler a specially constructed pocket is formedin oen end of the car to which the coupler is permanently attached. In the other end. of the car is a specially formedcoupler pocket to receive the outer free end of the cushion coupler. These pockets have been described in detail above and the manner of coupling the cars. The pocket which receives the coupler is flush with the outer end of the car-and does not project therefrom.

This is very helpful in the loadingof the car.

From the-above, it will'be noted "that each car; is equipped with the improved coupler at one end thereof and the built-in coupler pin releasing mechanism as well as a built-in pocket to receive the coupler blade of a car to be joined thereto. Therefore, the car camiot be turned around end for end without all cars being turned around, There are, however, many advantages from this improved coupler which is permanently attached to one end of the car, and the built-in construction for the other end of the car which permits it to beplaced very close to aloaden V It is ob 'ous that many changes may be made in the details of construction without depart- I claim: I I I l. A coupler for cars comprising an outer sleeve and; an inner sleeve having sliding telescoping connection'therewith, said'sleeves being radially spaced from each other, a compression spring disposed between said sleeves, devices car- ;ried by said sleeves whereby both inward and outward movement of said sleeves relative to each other will place said spring. under compression, a coupler paddle permanently secured to said outer sleeve and acoupler paddle perma- ,nently secured to said inner sleeveeach coupler paddle being attached to the respective cars ,to

. sleeveand anjf inne'r sleeve having sliding telescoping connection therewith, said sleeves being radially spaced irom each other, a compression spring disposed between said sleeves, loading stopscarried on the outer iace 'of said inner asset forth outer sleeve, one of said loading stops cooperating with an opposed abutment member for compressing the spring when the sleeves are moved in one direction relative to each other and the other loading stopv cooperating with its opposed abutment member for compressing the spring when the sleeves are moved in the opposite direction relative to'eachother, a coupler .paddle permanently secured to the V outer .sleeve and a coupler paddle permanently secured to said inner sleeve each coupler paddle being attached to the respective cars tobe connected byIa coupling pin permitting free swinging movement of thecoupler relative to the cars when the cars are passing along curved sections of track.

3. A coupler for cars comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve having sliding telescoping connection therewith, ,said sleeves being radially spaced from each other, a compression spring-disposed between said sleeves, devices carried by said sleeves whereby both inward and outward movement of said sleeves relative to each other will place said spring under compression, a coupler paddle permanently secured to the said outer sleeve and a coupler paddle permanently secured to said inner sleeve, said inner and outer sleeves being rotatable relative to each other whereby one or more cars in a train joined by said couplers can be inverted for dumping without uncoupling from the remaining cars. I

4. A coupler for cars comprising an outer sleeve-and an inner sleeve having sliding telescoping connection therewith, said sleeves being radially spaced from each other, a compression spring disposed between, said sleeves, devices carried by said sleeves whereby both inward and outward movement of said sleeves relative to each ,otherwill place said spring under compression, a coupling paddle permanently secured coupler paddle is secured, and said inner sleeve having a length so as to contact with said head under severe coupling shock to prevent overstraining said compression spring.

5. A coupler for cars comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve having sliding telescoping connection therewith, said sleeves being radially spaced from eachother, a compression spring disposed between said sleeves, devices carried by said sleeves whereby both inward and outward movement of .said sleeves relative .to

each other will'place said spring under compression, a coupling paddle permanently secured to the saidouter sleeve. and a coupler paddle permanently secured to said inner sleeve, a closure head for the outer sleeve, a tubular member within said inner sleeve and having a free telescoping fit therewith, a closure plate at the inner ,end of said tubular member, a,closure plate at the outer end of said inner sleeve, a second compression spring in said tubular member and inner sleeve adapted to beput under compression when the inner, sleeve is movedinto the outer sleeve oi? the coupling for assisting said first narned compression spring in absorbing the .shockof coupling orbraking.

6., Theicombination of a car having a coupler I pocketfa coupler having a coupler paddle ex- Itending into said pocket, a coupler pin adapted to pass through an opening in the coupler paddle for securing the coupler to said car, said opening being dimensioned so that the paddle will contact the coupler pocket under compression shock, said coupler including an outer sleeve having a closure head to which said coupler paddle is permanently attached and an inner sleeve having sliding telescoping connection with said outer sleeve, said sleeves being radially spaced from each other, a compression spring disposed between said sleeves, devices carried by said sleeves whereby both inward and outward movement of said sleeves relative to each other will place said spring under compression, and a coupler paddle secured to said inner sleeve and adapted to be connected to a second car.

'7. The combination of a car having a coupler pocket, a coupler having a coupler paddle extending into said pocket, a coupler pin adapted to pass through an opening in the coupler paddle for securing the coupler to said car, said opening being dimensioned so that the paddle will contact the coupler pocket under compression shock, said coupler including an outer sleeve having a closure head to which said coupler paddle is permanently attached and an inner sleeve having sliding telescoping connection with said outer sleeve, said sleeves being radially spaced from each other, a compression spring disposed between said sleeves, devices carried by said sleeves whereby both inward and outward movement of said sleeves relative to each other will place said spring under compression, and a coupler paddle secured to said inner sleeve and adapted to be connected to a second car, a tubular member located within said inner sleeve, said tubular member having a closure plate at the inner end thereof, a spring bearing against said closure plate and normally holding the closure plate in contact with the closure head of said outer sleeve, a bracket fixed within the coupler pocket, a supporting foot for the coupler having the inner end therof forked and adapted to engage lugs on said bracket, a stem attached to said supporting foot and extending through said head and bearing against the closure plate of said inner tubular member whereby said spring operating through said stem and bracket will center said coupler vertically and horizontally relative to the coupler pocket to which it is attached.

8. A mine car having a coupler pocket beneath each end thereof, said coupler pockets having top and bottom walls and side walls which taper outwardly away from each other, a coupling pin associated with one of said coupler pockets and a cushion coupler fastened to the car permanently by said coupling pin, a bracket disposed within said coupler pocket and rigidly attached thereto, devices associated with the coupler and adapted to engage the bracket, a compression spring within the coupler and cooperating through said devices and the bracket in the coupler pocket for holding said coupler horizontal and in centered position relative to the car when uncoupled from another car.

9. A mine car havinga' coupler pocket beneath each end thereof, said coupler pockets having top and bottom walls and side walls which taper outwardly away from each other, a coupling pin asa foot associated with said coupler adapted to engage said bracket, said foot having a stem projecting into the coupler housing, a compression spring bearing against the stem and operating through said foot for holding said coupler horizontal and in centered position relative to the car when uncoupled from another car.

10. A mine car having a coupler pocket beneath each end thereof, said coupler pockets having top and bottom walls and side walls which taper outwardly away from each other, a coupling pin associated with one of said coupler pockets and a cushion coupler fastened to the car permanently by said coupling pin, a bracket disposed Within said coupler pocket and rigidly attached thereto, a foot associated with said coupler and having members adapted to engage shoulders on said bracket, said foot having a stem projecting through the head of the coupler housing, a sleeve within the coupler housing having a plate adapted to engage the end of said stem, a spring within said sleeve, and means for holding the spring under compression whereby said foot bearing against the bracket will hold the coupler horizontal and in centered position relative to the car when uncoupled from another car.

11. A mine car having a coupler pocket beneath each end thereof, said coupler pockets having top and bottom walls and side walls which taper outwardly away from each other, a coupling pin associated with one of said coupler pockets and a cushion coupler fastened to the car permanently by said coupling pin, a bracket disposed within sociated with one of said coupler pockets and a 7 cushion coupler fastened to the car permanently by said coupling pin, a bracket disposed within said coupler pocket and rigidly attached thereto,

, said coupler pocket and rigidly attached thereto,

a foot associated with said coupler and having members adapted to engage shoulders on said bracket, said foot having a stem projecting through the head of the coupler housing, a compression spring within the coupler housing and operating through said stem whereby said bracket will hold the coupler horizontal and in centered position relative to the car when uncoupled from another car, the coupling pocket at the other end of the car having therein a supporting bracket rigidly attached to the pocket, said bracket having an upwardly inclined face adapted to direct the blade of a coupling member into position for coupling.

12. A rail car having a coupler pocket at each end thereof, said coupler pockets having top and bottom walls and side walls which taper outwardly from each other, a coupling pin associated with one of said coupler pockets and a cushion coupler fastened to the car permanently by said coupling pin, a bracket associated with said coupler pocket, a foot associated with said coupler adapted to engage said bracket, and yieldable means operating through said foot and bracket for holding said coupler horizontal and in centered position relative to the car when uncoupled from another car.

HENRY FORT FLOWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 545,933 Adams et a1. Sept. 10, 1895 1,364,213 Sprague Jan. 4, 1921 2,225,418 Larsson Dec. 17, 1940 2,320,619 Larsson June 1, 1943 

